Cracked Fuch, Can this be repaired Options

[Katmanken]

Buy a new one. Forged wheels have a specific grain structure from the high impact forging process. Welding it will melt the metal and, at a minimum, change the forged grain structure into something weaker.

Not sure if the Fuchs are preciptation hardened to get the strength up (T4, T6) but if they are, applying heat will knock them down to T0 - which is dead soft and easily bent.

[ClayPerrine]

I have two that have cracked.

I think it is a function of them being 40 years old, and in our case, extra stress from lots of AX events.

Here is what we did with the nicely polished one that cracked:




It now resides in our 914 themed den.





The light is made with an early 911 air filter for a shade. The beer glass is from the PCA Parade in 2004 in Fort Worth, and the coasters are miniature brake rotors in a caliper for a holder.

[Larmo63]

In German, "fuchs" means "fox"......

[steuspeed]

Hose reel or end table. Your choice.

[carr914]

This just points out for people to check your wheels regularly. A Forge Wheel should be the strongest wheel out there - much stronger than Cast Wheels and much Stronger than the aftermarket (for the most part) wheels.

As much as I think they are the best looking wheel for a 914-6, I would never put a set of the Mahle Gas-Burners on a car. They were the Lightest Wheel ever put on a Porsche due to their Magnesium construction. However Mag gets brittle as it gets older (one of the "new" problems of older 911 Engines), developes cracks & break

[naro914]

Good thing you found it now or this could have happened... Found while at speed...on a racetrack....a friend was driving Huey and thought a tire was going down!

YES, check your wheels!!

[carr914]

DANG!

[naro914]

Yep...cracked all the way through, but the center area won't come out.

Clay, that table and all the other items you have there are awesome!

larryg - don't mess with it. Buy a new one, not worth the consequences.

[mepstein]

This just points out for people to check your wheels regularly. A Forge Wheel should be the strongest wheel out there - much stronger than Cast Wheels and much Stronger than the aftermarket (for the most part) wheels.

As much as I think they are the best looking wheel for a 914-6, I would never put a set of the Mahle Gas-Burners on a car. They were the Lightest Wheel ever put on a Porsche due to their Magnesium construction. However Mag gets brittle as it gets older (one of the "new" problems of older 911 Engines), developes cracks & break

Does it get brittle with age or use(work harden, heat, ect) I didn't realize age would change a metal's structure.

[carr914]

It may get Brittle from One or Both. My Engine Builder will no longer build Motors on Mag cases after pieces of cases have cracked during Torque Down or while running. Racers don't want to hear that their $50k Fresh Motor is Toast because The Case Cracked or Broke. In Wheels, why take the chance with your life!

[0396]

Good thing you found it now or this could have happened... Found while at speed...on a racetrack....a friend was driving Huey and thought a tire was going down!

YES, check your wheels!!

Wow, lucky you. Is this a factory wheel?

[naro914]

Good thing you found it now or this could have happened... Found while at speed...on a racetrack....a friend was driving Huey and thought a tire was going down!

YES, check your wheels!!

Wow, lucky you. Is this a factory wheel?

Actually very good point. No it was not...so another word of warning, DO NOT use wheels made in China for track use.

If you think about it, the stress that gets put on the wheels is enourmous, so age, weather, 'spirited' driving/autocross/track, temperature changes, etc. all contribute to wear down our wheels, just like any other metal or item on our 40+ year old cars.

[Phoenix914]

I have two that have cracked.

I think it is a function of them being 40 years old, and in our case, extra stress from lots of AX events.

Here is what we did with the nicely polished one that cracked:

It now resides in our 914 themed den.

The light is made with an early 911 air filter for a shade. The beer glass is from the PCA Parade in 2004 in Fort Worth, and the coasters are miniature brake rotors in a caliper for a holder.

Clay, your table rocks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) Could you give some details of how you made it? If one of my wheels should happen to have a crack in it...

[ClayPerrine]

Clay, your table rocks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) Could you give some details of how you made it? If one of my wheels should happen to have a crack in it...

Buy a wooden top stool from IKEA. Shorten the legs about 4 inches so that the top of the wheel is a little lower than the arm of the couch. Throw the wooden blocks for the stool top away. Go to the hardware store and buy nuts and washers to fit the stock steel lug bolts. Center the wheel on the stool and drill the 4 holes for the lug bolts. Deburr the holes, then paint the top of the stool with a very thick coat of silver paint. Wait for it to partially dry, then take a paint brush and wipe the top of the stool in a circular motion. This will make the metal top of the stool look like a used brake rotor. Paint the tire mounting surface black and bolt the rim on the stool. Then get a 17 inch circular piece of glass and some silicone rubber disks to stick to the rim to insulate the glass. The center cap hole is filled by a 356 emblem that was no longer usable, but you can put whatever you want in there.

[Phoenix914]

Buy a wooden top stool from IKEA. Shorten the legs about 4 inches so that the top of the wheel is a little lower than the arm of the couch. Throw the wooden blocks for the stool top away. Go to the hardware store and buy nuts and washers to fit the stock steel lug bolts. Center the wheel on the stool and drill the 4 holes for the lug bolts. Deburr the holes, then paint the top of the stool with a very thick coat of silver paint. Wait for it to partially dry, then take a paint brush and wipe the top of the stool in a circular motion. This will make the metal top of the stool look like a used brake rotor. Paint the tire mounting surface black and bolt the rim on the stool. Then get a 17 inch circular piece of glass and some silicone rubber disks to stick to the rim to insulate the glass. The center cap hole is filled by a 356 emblem that was no longer usable, but you can put whatever you want in there.

Thanks for the great writeup. It almost makes me hope I find a bad one. Almost.

[scotty b]

the word " Reel " implies the wheel is a self winding or hand crank system. You are all 914 owners. We all know none of you made the damned thing an actual working unit (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) . Please revise all postings to read " wall mounted hose holder "


TIA and as always...... have nice day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[larryg]

Am having 4 spoke fuchs polished and discovered a crack. Am sending it out to see if it can be safely repaired. Thoughts?

Thanks for advise everyone, much appreciated. Larry

[green914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[DblDog]

Wall mount it, use it to wind up the air hose in your man cave...impress your friends!

[naro914]

Wall mount it, use it to wind up the air hose in your man cave...impress your friends!

and put a hand crank on it just to piss off scotty b
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)